Tag Archives: Nightclub

That Moment / I didn’t want to hurt you, but I’m just a jealous guy

Image: Archer Iñíguez

It’s four in the morning and the world is bleary. I’ve gone past the point where I think I look good because I know that I’m wrecked. Sam is dancing with everyone. He jumps and waves his arms in front of anyone who’ll let him, and they are pleased that he does so, because he’s a good looking guy with a wonderful smile. There are snatches of conversation with girls who flirt with him and then he moves onto somebody else. Boundless energy. 

I hate it that Sam is enjoying himself and I wish that he’d dance with me. But he comes nowhere near. Dan comes over and puts his arm around me. His sweat reminds me of greasy chips and vinegar on Southend Pier.  I tell him to fuck off because I’d rather watch Sam dancing. 

Eight pints of Madri have stirred up something inside me. I have no right to love but I ignore the warning signs. A toxic mixture that will bubble into jealousy, self pity and violent anger. Soon I will explode and do something bad, and I won’t know how to stop it.

That moment/He tells me to hit him, but I won’t

Tonight, a lad calls me an “ugly old wet wipe.” The thing is, he is telling the world because he is pointing his phone in my face and recording it all. I tell him not to be rude. He is not clever enough to realise that a bodycam is also recording him.  But he persists. “You are vile,” he says, “And I’m a nice person.” I do what I always do and ignore him. “You’re probably on minimum wage, while I earn loads.” I smile. A female appears and tells me that her friend really is a nice person and that he doesn’t mean what he’s saying. I tell her that his behaviour is exactly the reason why I won’t let him inside. She doesn’t agree and tells me that I’m being unreasonable. The lad is still filming. And then he calls me an “old cunt”, but I don’t react. “That’s why you’ll never get anyone, and you’ll die sad and lonely.” And then, he tells me to hit him. But I won’t because that’s what he wants me to do so he can edit the footage and put it on Facebook. Eventually they both walk away, and I realise that I have won, and they have lost.